ABSTRACT
The first four sections of Part I of the provisions integrate the technical provisions that are presented in the following sections with the AISC Unified Specification, the Applicable Building Code (ABC) and other applicable national standards (ASCE, ASTM, e.g.). The provisions are intended to apply to buildings that are classified in the ABC as Seismic Design Category D (or equivalent) and higher or when required by the Engineer of Record. In other words, the AISC Seismic Provisions are to be incorporated on all buildings in the higher seismic design categories. In the lower seismic design categories (A through C, as defined in ASCE 7 or the ABC), the engineer has a choice. He/ she may either design the system for an R factor of 3 and design the system solely using the Unified Specification, or design the system using the AISC S eismic
Provisions using the higher R factor. It should be noted that in the lower seismic design categories, the engineer may not use the higher R factor without also designing the system to meet the ductility and detailing requirements of the AISC Seismic Provisions. In addition, it should be noted that the provisions have been specifically developed for building design. Nonbuilding structures with building-like characteristics are also included in the scope. The Commentary to the provisions states the following: “The Provisions, therefore, may not be applicable, in whole or in part, to non-building structures. Extrapolation of their use to non-building structures should be done with due consideration of the inherent differences between the response characteristics of buildings and non-building structures.”
